Rants & Raves

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE of a college consolidation if the two campuses are continuing to act as separate schools? The mandatory fees should be the same for all students, unless they’re half-time or distance learning students. Get your act together, Georgia Regents University; you’re creating a Despicable Me.

I HAVE A RANT concerning the NRA. Why is it implementing a fund to acquire George Zimmerman a weapon, since his weapon in the case is forgoing further examination and will be returned to him at a later date? I heard rants that a Zimmerman trial is not about race. If it really wants to be unbiased, why doesn’t the NRA raise money to give adult black males 18-21 weapons, so they do not end up like Trayvon Martin? Where are the Second Amendment rights for them?

I HOPE THAT WHEN President Obama goes on the road to explain his economic message, he states how he is going to help Georgia, which has suffered more than most states and is still hundreds of thousands of jobs below its prerecession levels. To make matters worse, Georgia’s recipients of food stamps make it the sixth-highest in the nation. Mr. President, we need your help!

AS IN WESTERNS when the cowboys would check their guns at the door, so should people with phones attending a movie theater. It is so annoying and distracting to see phone screens light up all over the theater. Either come to watch the movie or stay home and watch your phone.

RANT TO THE Rich­mond County Board of Education: Get rid of Frank Robertson and hire within (Spivey) and save money for teachers and no more furlough days.

IF SKIN COLOR HAS bearing in a court of law, then the scales of justice have not tipped – they have toppled.

THANK YOU, WAL-MART North Augusta, for providing the handicapped with electric carts, and then hang a sign telling them not to take them outside and for the pipe that you added to the cart so it won’t go out the door.

RANT FOR TRACY Williams on his letter: What we do now? How about ending the 73 percent out-of-wedlock births. How about black fathers supporting their kids instead of us hard-working, taxpaying citizens. We are tired of it. As long as they are raised with the behavior they have now, they will be incarcerated or shot down in the streets as they are doing all over this country.

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"why doesn’t the NRA raise money to give adult black males 18-21 weapons, so they do not end up like Trayvon Martin?"

Actually, how about teaching ALL people to NOT ATTACK someone, so they don't end up like Trayvon!!!

Last time I checked, the 2nd Amendment applies to black males 18-21!! As long as a person isn't a convicted felon or convicted of domestic violence, it applies to ALL people. So why don't YOU tell those persons to arm THEMSELVES!!

Approximately how many law enforcement officer's are there in the United States?

As of 2006; there are approximately 800,000.

Show me ANY other occupation that employs that many people, and has ZERO incidents with their employees!! There will ALWAYS be bad seeds, which need to be discovered, fired and prosecuted!! But your comments suggest that you believe ALL "cops" to be corrupt!! It's simply NOT true.

According to the FBI, only 3% of ALL law enforcement officer's are corrupt!! Yes, those 3% give us ALL bad names, but you've got to distinguish the individual, from the group!! Common sense prevails. Compare all those videos to the number of officer's and the number of bad incidents are miniscule!! Now, If you're one of the people who experience an incident like those, the number's don't mean anything. But reality is, the overwhelming majority of people will NEVER experience an incident like those.

Also, I have absolutely NO problem with someone recording me!! As a matter of fact, I encourage it, because it will help prove me innocent of all accusations.

#7: If you truly are handicapped, then why don't you have your own transportation? Do you only need it when you are in walmart? I think we know why MOST of the people are using these carts.....and most of these people NEED to get up and walk around a bit.

ATLANTA - Mayor Kasim Reed announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached which will allow the Atlanta Falcons to purchase Friendship Baptist Church, paving the way for a new stadium to be built.

At a press conference, Reed announced the church's board has accepted a $19.5 million offer to sell its property, if the team opts to build on the south site. Reed said no city funds will be used to close the deal, and the Falcons will finance the cost of the property

This comes a day after the Atlanta City Council voted to approve a resolution that paves the way for plans for a new Falcons stadium to move forward. The council voted 11-4 to approve the amended resolution authorizing the extension and use of the hotel-motel tax to partially fund the new stadium.

Council members Kwanza Hall, Alex Wan, Howard Shook and Felicia Moore voted against the resolution. The new facility, complete with a retractable roof, is expected to cost $1 billion. Of that total price tag, $200 million will be funded by hotel-motel tax revenue.

The deal, which calls on the Falcons to foot most of the bill, was announced 11 days ago. It's already been approved by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.

Sadly most of the people using the handicap carts are desperately in need of some exercise. I have no issue with truly handicapped people using them but the vast majority of the ones I see are just lazy. While we're on the subject of handicapped issues. One that really is abused is the number of perfectly healthy people using handicapped placards that were issued to someone else. If Momma or Aunt Jane isn't with you the placard shouldn't be used just because you're too lazy to walk 50 feet.

I acknowledged it would happen. I am courious as to why you are so excited about it. For my part, it means my Falcon tickets are going to rise. I don't pay hotel taxes in Atl, so it doesn't effect me. As I said yesterday, it isn't needed. The money could be better spent on the failing infrastructure in ATL. Again, not my problem, just an obsevation. Have you ever been in the Ga Dome?? It's beautiful, only 20yrs old, what a waste. IMO of course.

I see jobs in this...construction--vendors--etc...& after the thing has been built maybe a few jobs for some teens & young men in the area...It has been a long time since I went to a game...years..but I love to watch on tv & have family members who are crazy for baseball & football....anyway just like you said I don't have skin in the place either.....Blank can't just sit on all that money now can he? :)

No, Blank could reduce the ticket price and ACTUALLY give something back to fans!!

That's the problems with these NFL owners; they see another owner (Jerry Jones) building a mega-structure and it makes them jealous!! They want the same thing, so they waste a 20 year old building by vacating it, and build bigger and "Better".

My team (Carolina Panthers) are going through the same heated debate about whether to build a new stadium, at taxpayer's expense. Bank of America Stadium was built in 1994 so it isn't even 20 years old yet; that to me, seems ridiculous!! Keep the stadium, take that extra money and instead of having to pay 100 dollars for nosebleed tickets, give us a break!!

You are right. It's all about EGO. That's how people like Blank become people like Blank. God love em. I don't blame them at all. Just hate to see tax money spent needlessly. I guess it's the fiscal conservative piece of me.

Home Depot co-founder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has joined a prestigious list of billionaires — including Ted Turner, Warren Buffett, George Lucas and Bill and Melinda Gates among many others — by signing the Giving Pledge. With his signing, Blank is ageeeing to give away the majority of his wealth to charity.

Blank explained his decision to sign the Giving Pledge in a letter that appeared in a recent edition of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. An excerpt from the letter reads:

“Now, as I approach my 70th birthday, I am more committed than ever to making a difference through philanthropy. The needs in our society are more profound than at any point in my lifetime. The gap between rich and poor in America is growing. Philanthropy alone cannot repair all of the social injustice in our country or the world. It can, however, inspire good will, spark innovation and provide thought leadership.”

Although Blank just signed the Giving Pledge, his foundation, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, has been actively giving to charities for 18 years. Philanthropic causes supported by the foundation include fighting childhood obesity and supporting the arts and childhood education.

You can see who else has promised to give away there wealth at the Giving Pledge website.

Honestly, I would probably pay off quite a few people's mortgages. I know FAR to many people, upside down in their mortgage and barely scraping by; but working their tails off. I would like to give them a little security by knowing their homes will not be in jeopardy.

I've seen the tee-shirt to the effect I'd like the chance to prove being rich would not change me. I'd go ape-****. G-d knows better than to have me be rich.

My only problem with the Giving Pledge is the money is going to (at what I consider) bottomless pits throughout the world, treating effects rather than causations, the majority of which are political and cultural. It seems insulting not to benefit the people of the country that enabled these individuals to become so insanely wealthy.

If I had the money these people had I would help all my friends that needed it but that would not be too many because people with that kind of money stay with like kind. But it would not be going to Africa, Zimbawee, Mexico or any countries like that. It would stay in Augusta, GA. where it was earned from the people of Augusta, GA.

Usually the people that are speaking in an uncouth manner in the presence of women and children were also using graphic sexual comments. I would categorize that as uncouth, as well as verbal abuse, ESPECIALLY in front of women and children. It is not appropriate and should be addressed.